Advice about North Korean customs

Advice about North Korean customs Sinuiju Reviews

It's unlikely that a lot of you will (ever) get to this place any time soon, but for those who are going to make a trip into North Korea and do so by train from Beijing, here are some tips on how to act at the border.

North Korea is very strict when it comes to bringing in your cellphones and gps devices. They won't allow you. They find this way more important then other items you happen to carry with you.

For example, I carried my daily medication in my handluggage and the customs officer only looked at them. I thought I had to explain it to him what they were, but no.

It's best to not bring your cellphone with you leave it behind in your hotel in Beijing if you return there.

Store away your camera and don't be using it or pretend to be using it. They will tell you to show your photos and if they seem something they don't like (like photos of the train station), they will tell you to delete it or do it themselves.

Make sure you have filled out all the customs forms to the truth, they will search your luggage pretty thoroughly.

As for the return: no doubt people will have take a lot of pictures, even of things they don't want you to. I experienced first hand they want to see your picures. Make sure you have pictures they won't delete. I had lots of Pyongyang.

Because of the lack of time at the border, the search and customs clearance was rushed. But under normal circumstances, they can take the time. That also means more time to check your camera more thoroughly, so accept any loss of pictures.

An option to store them on, is a laptop. They don't mind you bringing it into the country. But they will check it when leave the country for anything you might have put on there. Try to be creative where you put anything (photos, journals, etc.), so they won't locate it. They do know how to search!

When you buy souvenirs at souvenir shops, make sure you get a hand written receipt. This way you can show them it's an official bought souvenir. I bought old North Korean Wons (money) and was told by our korean tourguide to ask for a receipt. Without one, I could have had the money confiscated at the border.

As strict as it all may sound, just do as they say and you will find the least problems to enter this country. It's part of the adventure of travelling into Kim's closed country.